Chapter 12: The Serpent's Apple
"Serena what's gotten into you?" Luna asked.
"It's nothing Luna. I'm probably just taking this all to heart too much..." Serena sat in her bath trying to calm her mind.
"What to heart?"
"Darien…he went out for coffee with this woman today. I gave him an apology gift for this morning and he just ignored me…and called me klutzy- like I don't already know am- and he basically called me stupid and- I've been better lately haven't I? I mean I didn't think I really bugged him that much..." Serena looked at her reflection in the water.
"That's not the Darien I know Serena. If he was rude I'm sure he'll apologize. Darien did go through a lot too… he's also probably pressured to become a good future King." Luna thought it sounded strange, but she decided to keep her mouth shut. "And speaking of which, that women wasn't just "a woman'" was she?"
"No, a friend and colleague." Serena said sheepishly.
"See. He's not ignoring you, he's probably just...has his academics on his mind... Try to talk to him again tomorrow." Luna looked at Serena who was playing with the foam in the water absently. "Then why don't you get ready to go out with your friends? The festival should be fun. Serena you and Darien know your future ends well…I'm sure it will work out."
"Okay, I will. But I'm still staying in the bath for another hour… I need to relax for a while." She leaned back. Maybe Luna was right…but still she hated the feeling of another person mad at her…especially Darien.
"Don't stay in too long Serena you'll get water logged and turn into a raisin!"
"Shh, Luna." She sunk down into the water and splashed over by her cat.
Luna pounced away from the water and rolled her eyes leaving the bathroom.
"Who cares, you still never called last night…"
"I was at a meeting! And its not like you're a perfect girlfriend either! I don't have time for this."
The girls watched as another couple leaving in a heated quarrel in opposite directions from each other, in the evening sky.
"Did they have the charms on too?" Leta sighed.
"I'm afraid so." Ami used her computer to pin point the charms on the couple.
"So we do have a connection…" Mina said aloud.
"Or we think we do. I bet we should pay the place a visit before it closes. Need to get this wrapped up before the festival tonight." Rei said.
"Shouldn't we bring Serena? I think she needs her answers too." Ami added.
"I'll send her a text. Lets leave her be as long as possible. If we get in more trouble we can always use our communicators later." Mina said.
"I agree. If this is some strange love coincidence for being the most love-tragic day in Tokyo, then we shouldn't need her and let her figure it out with Darien." Leta nodded.
"I don't understand why you made a special adjustment for that one girl. She would not be affected you know." Adori retorted, her eyes burning. "Arguments need two arguers."
"Do not quarrel with me Neikia. Save that for when you really need to spread the pain of lost affections. I like to leave myself some room for some fun. What better way to recruit humans than to snag them in myself? Can a man not enjoy the luxuries of playing with a few hearts?"
"And cause her the pain after?"
"You wouldn't understand. If we are lucky, I'd say maybe those Guardian Senshi are too busy in their own quarrels. I can only hope that your use has come to good use for me… " Ixion's eyes moved to Adori. "Make sure the door is closed. I want to have a stand prepared for this "festival" thing those people were speaking of. Whatever we don't sell tonight, we will make up for when you strike. Any human relationship is breakable…especially when they're so easy to influence with all the chaos and discord of the Universe." Ixion turned to leave to the back room. "Close the shop and get ready for this evening."
Adori nodded. She turned the "Open" sign on the shop door to "Closed" and went over to the cash register.
The scouts found themselves outside of the shop not long after.
"So, it's closed." Leta said disappointed.
"That means nothing. We have to figure out if there is a connection." Mina said. Rei nodded in agreement.
"We might not need to break in." Ami stopped them short. "I might be able to see the display case through the window. If the same energy is in the store that came from the seedling then we might have a match."
"Makes sense." Leta nodded.
"Well scan it quick! If this is the cause, we need to get rid of it before all the couples break up." Rei said. "Because If there are seeds nearby then so is one of those monsters."
Ami scanned the shop. "There are strong waves of energy from the display case at the back."
"The same one that Serena got that pin from?" Mina asked.
"Yea, but more concentrated. Each charm seems to almost hold one of the seeds." Ami said.
"So they've got a new way of spreading them. Not just by monster…" Rei said.
"Except that's not it. Somebody is in there, and sending a lot of bad energy off of them." Ami put her mini-computer back just as the door opened to the shop.
"You girls want to come in? I'd never turn down a few good customers." Adori said opening the door with a smile.
The girls stood there in awkward silence.
"Actually, I'd like to ask a few questions about the charms. I'm still not really convinced they work the way they should." Rei took the chance to go inside. She winked at the others to follow her in.
"Well it's-" Adori started just as they entered the room.
"I'd hate to think that you girls came all the way back just to question our product." Ixion entered the room.
"Well lets just say your product is a little suspicious." Leta accused.
"Well how come that attractive girl with you before bought one if they're so suspicious?" Adori looked peeved.
"That's why were here. You're charms are actually causing fights by the couples who are wearing them." Ami added rather bluntly.
"Yea, and you messed up our friend's night. Nobody has the right to mess up love!" Mina proclaimed.
"Your friend is having love problems now eh? Ah, and you all must really be quite the perfect girls, considering the fact that you believe fighting and quarrels are so uncommon in this world…relationships are always shaky. You humans are far from perfect." Ixion challenged.
"Humans?" Leta added. "Alright mister what's your game?"
"No games. Just action." Ixion smiled deviously. "Neikia, I want you to show these girls you don't need a lover to quarrel. Surely you know how delicate relationships are Neikia?"
"As delicate as flowers. Until they bloom into the perfect fruit of love, and the snake is revealed beneath that flower!" Adori suddenly transformed into a monster with the tail of a snake and two golden snake-like armlets that ran to her shoulder, with their faces along her wrists. "I am Neikia, the quarreling demon, no relationship can with stand the poison of vindictiveness that underlies all affection."
"Good. Now get rid of these humans… I'm sure they'll find they have a bit of venom in their own words once they are seeded-" Ixion turned to leave when Rei called him out.
"Oh I wouldn't leave just yet, you can't get rid of us that easily. You want a real charm?" Rei took out a paper charm. "I call upon the power of Mars, smite this evil man and keep him in his tracks so he can be punished." She threw it at Ixion.
He smiled and held out his hand as a wheel-shape flame rolled at the paper charm and engulfed it mid-air before it could reach him.
"Sailor Mars I'm guessing? Nice to finally meet you face to face…unfortunately, for once you'll be fighting fire with fire." Ixion smiled. "I'm Ixion of the Flames of Temptations, and I'm quite sure you'll find I'm a little more fun to fight against than my counterparts, the two sea-Sailors you had previously encountered." He transformed, his red- brown wavy hair fell upon two dangerously golden eyes, with his thin, muscular arms slightly tanned against his orange-red vest. "I also deduce I may have encountered not one, but four of the legendary Sailor Guardians?"
"That's right buddy. You're in for it." Leta said before they all transformed.
"Well this should be fun." Ixion said. "However I think this also means your missing another four Guardian Scouts… you'd better hope your friends are coming because I'm afraid you girls might not be friends for long."